Sign



Jan. 22, 1952 KREss ETAL 2,583,055

SIGN

Filed July 11, 1946 INVENTORS PAUL KRESS 8 ADOLF JANKEL.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 22, 1952 I SIGN Paul Kress and Adolf Jankel, London, England Application July 11, 1946, Serial No. 681,786 In Great Britain June 27, 1945 2 Claims.

This invention relates to signs and more particularly to electric signs of the kind which give an impression of running water to the onlooker, its object being to provide an improved construction.

The invention is shown by way of simple example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan view with the lid removed, and Fig. 3 is a section on line III-J11 of Fig. 2.

In the construction shown, 1 is the box-like structure or casing having a front panel 2 carrying the display matter of the sign.

At the rear of the panel 2 in the lower part of the box-like structure is disposed a light source comprising one or more electric lamps 3 arranged to shine on the drum, said lamps being advantageously mounted in supports 4 and shielded from the panel, by for instance a shield or shields 5 serving to deflect the direct light from the lamps of the sign and throw it onto a longitudinally disposed rotatable cylindrical drum 6 mounted on a spindle 1 carried by the end walls of the box I or otherwise conveniently. Such drum is adapted to be rotated at suitable speed by a motor 8 housed in the box I, suitable reduction gear being embodied if necessary. The drum is raised preferably from the bottom of the box I and its peripheral surface consists of one or more transparent strips of suitable material such as, for instance, glass, celluloid, or other transparent substance which can be variously colored or each strip may be of a distinct shade. The strips are arranged longitudinally alon the curved surface of the drum. The surface of the strips is perforated.

Some of the light from the light source strikes the perforated colored transparent strips and is reflected onto the front panel, and other light from the light source passes through the perforations and is reflected from the interior of the drum onto the front panel.

To enhance the efiect, the inner walls of the box can be polished or otherwise treated or be formed as mirrors. A curved reflecting surface such as 9 may be provided within the box-like structure and behind the drum 6.

The surface of the drum 6 is shown as being circular in cross section but any suitable cross section may be used.

The invention is simple to produce and gives a very attractive sign.

We claim:

1. An improved electric display sign giving the illusion of running water, of the kind comprising a box-like structure, a front panel for said boxlike structure, display matter on said front panel, a rotatable cylindrical drum arranged longitudinally behind said front panel, and a source of light inside the lower part of the box-like structure shielded from the front panel and arranged to shine on the drum, said drum being formed of a plurality of perforated colored transparent strips arranged longitudinally along the curved surface thereof, part of the light from the lightsource striking the perforated colored transparent strips and being reflected onto the front panel, and part of such light passing through said perforations so as to be reflected from the interior of the rotating drum onto the front panel.

2.-An improved electric display sign giving the illusion of running water, as claimed in claim having a curved reflector arranged within the box-like structure and behind the drum.

PAUL KRESS. ADOLF JANKEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,921,570 Johnson Aug. 8, 1933 2,036,032 Fioravanti Mar. 31, 1936 2,199,308 E vans Apr. 30, 1940 2,227,861 Petrone Jan. 7, 1941 2,293,106 Bourdakoff Aug. 18, 1942 2,322,838 Evans June 29, 1943 

